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Renovation funding will make a real difference for housing co-ops

OTTAWA, May 1 /CNW Telbec/ - The Co-operative Housing Federation of
Canada warmly welcomed today's announcement of federal and provincial funds to
build new affordable housing and renovate existing social housing.
"Nova Scotia housing co-ops are ready to make fast and effective use of
these funds," said CHF Canada President Ken Elliott. Housing co-operatives
hope to benefit from some of the $128 million available through an amendment
to the Canada-Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Program Agreement and an
extension to the Canada-Nova Scotia Housing Renovation Program Agreement, with
investments from both governments.
"We are very happy to see the two levels of government working together
on the housing components of Canada's Economic Action Plan," said Nicholas
Gazzard, Executive Director. "Our members have been working hard to ensure
that Canada's investment in affordable housing is preserved for future
generations and this will make a real difference in that work."
CHF Canada has been working to protect and update existing housing
co-ops, many of which are starting to age. We have lobbied for renovation and
energy retrofit money, and we were the first to ask for an investment in
energy saving retrofits for social housing.
The planned North End United Housing Co-op hopes to benefit from the
funds. The co-op is in the middle of a planned merger of four existing co-ops
in Halifax's North End community. The 131 units of affordable co-op housing
need extensive exterior and interior renovation.
The announcement took place in the Seniors' Lounge at Bloomfield Centre,
2786 Agricola St., Halifax. Premier Rodney MacDonald, Community Services
Minister Chris d'Entremont, and MP Greg Kerr, on behalf of Diane Finley
Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing, made the announcement.
CHF Canada is the national voice of the Canadian co-operative housing
movement. Its members include nearly 900 non-profit housing co-operatives and
other organizations across Canada. More than a quarter of a million Canadians
live in housing co-ops, in every province and territory. There are 80 housing
co-ops in Nova Scotia, providing 1,928 affordable homes.